Religious changes 1509-88
“The influence of Thomas Cromwell was the main reason for reforms in the English Church in the
period 1529-40”
Para 1 - Thomas Cromwell
- Changed the religious landscapes in England by laying the foundations of the CofE
- Given chief responsibility in solving the ‘Great Matter’
- Devised the act of supremacy in 1534
- Made kings vicegerent and with Crammer enforced that every parish should have a bible
written in english (previously Henry had executed the man who suggested this) - shows his
influence/close relationship with the King
- Cromwell initiated a doctrinal revolution; the act of Ten Articles (1536) established the
Protestant beliefs to have only 3 sacraments and an ambiguous view of the Eucharist
- Important Catholic institutions and locations (monasteries in 1536-9 and Thomas Beckett’s
shrines in 1538) were destroyed as a result of the Protestant view of Catholic superstition
and materialism
Para 2 - Anne Boleyn
- She arrived in court 1529 - refused to become Henry’s mistress
- Anne persuaded Henry to read Tyndale’s “The Obedience of a Christian Man” and sponsored
his New Testament
- Appointment of evangelical bishops eg. Cranmer who married them in Jan 1533
➔ Though you could argue that Anne began the process, Henry continued to reform after
Anne’s execution in 1536 and therefore she is not the most important factor
Para 3 - Henry himself
- Began to steer towards religious reform originally as Catherine could not produce a male heir
- He believed God was judging his marriage unfavourable, because he had married his late
brother’s wife and therefore it was against God’s will
- Without the initial desire for an heir, Henry would not have considered a divorce and
therefore there would not have been religious change
- Henry himself was a strong Catholic, named “Defender of the Faith” in 1521, therefore it was
not a personal desire for religious inform, but in fact his desperation for a male heir and
therefore his need for a divorce
➔ However, without Cromwell, it is likely that England would have continued to practise
Catholic faith, it was Cromwell who enforced the change
, To what extent was religion in England significantly changed during the reign of
Henry VIII?
To a far extent…
- The break with Rome 1534 (Act of Supremacy) split England from the RCC and began the
reformation
● Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church transferred papal powers to him and gave
him authority over the church and all clergy
● Protestantism given doctrinal and legal status and was no longer merely an
underground movement, like The White Horse group
● English Bible authorised by Henry propagated the Protestant belief that all should
understand the word of God
● Cromwell initiated a doctrinal revolution; the act of Ten Articles (1536) established
the Protestant beliefs to have only 3 sacraments and an ambiguous view of the
Eucharist
● Can use parliament as a tool which gives his actions legitimacy in law and difficult to
challenge - many were frightened of the consequences of opposition as Cromwell’s
Treason Act of 1534 was severe
● Important Catholic institutions and locations (monasteries in 1536-9 and Thomas
Beckett’s shrines in 1538) were destroyed as a result of the Protestant view of
Catholic superstition and materialism
● High profile opponents to Act of Supremacy were dealt with under the Treason Act
eg. Thomas More executed in 1535 after refusing to take part in the Oath of
Succession
To a lesser extent…
- Once Cromwell had fallen from power in 1540 Henry returned back to a more Catholic
doctrine through the Act of Six Articles in 1539 (celibacy for priests, transubstantiation) and
the King’s book in 1543
- Catholic practices were difficult to stamp out
● There was still a strong belief in Catholic doctrine - 85% of wills made in 1530s in
London (where Protestantism took root more quickly) were using traditional
references to saints and prayers for the soul
● In 1547 only ⅕ of the population were Protestants
● North and West were still firmly Catholic
● PofG 1536
● Cromwell’s campaign against purgatory in 1533-36 met with opposition from the
Bishop of London, who openly preached at St Paul’s in defence of prayers for the
dead
- Reverse in doctrine
● 1539 Act of Six Articles - anyone denying transubstantiation could be burnt alive
● King’s book 1543 (emphasised traditional beliefs in mass)
“The influence of Thomas Cromwell was the main reason for reforms in the English Church in the
period 1529-40”
Para 1 - Thomas Cromwell
- Changed the religious landscapes in England by laying the foundations of the CofE
- Given chief responsibility in solving the ‘Great Matter’
- Devised the act of supremacy in 1534
- Made kings vicegerent and with Crammer enforced that every parish should have a bible
written in english (previously Henry had executed the man who suggested this) - shows his
influence/close relationship with the King
- Cromwell initiated a doctrinal revolution; the act of Ten Articles (1536) established the
Protestant beliefs to have only 3 sacraments and an ambiguous view of the Eucharist
- Important Catholic institutions and locations (monasteries in 1536-9 and Thomas Beckett’s
shrines in 1538) were destroyed as a result of the Protestant view of Catholic superstition
and materialism
Para 2 - Anne Boleyn
- She arrived in court 1529 - refused to become Henry’s mistress
- Anne persuaded Henry to read Tyndale’s “The Obedience of a Christian Man” and sponsored
his New Testament
- Appointment of evangelical bishops eg. Cranmer who married them in Jan 1533
➔ Though you could argue that Anne began the process, Henry continued to reform after
Anne’s execution in 1536 and therefore she is not the most important factor
Para 3 - Henry himself
- Began to steer towards religious reform originally as Catherine could not produce a male heir
- He believed God was judging his marriage unfavourable, because he had married his late
brother’s wife and therefore it was against God’s will
- Without the initial desire for an heir, Henry would not have considered a divorce and
therefore there would not have been religious change
- Henry himself was a strong Catholic, named “Defender of the Faith” in 1521, therefore it was
not a personal desire for religious inform, but in fact his desperation for a male heir and
therefore his need for a divorce
➔ However, without Cromwell, it is likely that England would have continued to practise
Catholic faith, it was Cromwell who enforced the change
, To what extent was religion in England significantly changed during the reign of
Henry VIII?
To a far extent…
- The break with Rome 1534 (Act of Supremacy) split England from the RCC and began the
reformation
● Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church transferred papal powers to him and gave
him authority over the church and all clergy
● Protestantism given doctrinal and legal status and was no longer merely an
underground movement, like The White Horse group
● English Bible authorised by Henry propagated the Protestant belief that all should
understand the word of God
● Cromwell initiated a doctrinal revolution; the act of Ten Articles (1536) established
the Protestant beliefs to have only 3 sacraments and an ambiguous view of the
Eucharist
● Can use parliament as a tool which gives his actions legitimacy in law and difficult to
challenge - many were frightened of the consequences of opposition as Cromwell’s
Treason Act of 1534 was severe
● Important Catholic institutions and locations (monasteries in 1536-9 and Thomas
Beckett’s shrines in 1538) were destroyed as a result of the Protestant view of
Catholic superstition and materialism
● High profile opponents to Act of Supremacy were dealt with under the Treason Act
eg. Thomas More executed in 1535 after refusing to take part in the Oath of
Succession
To a lesser extent…
- Once Cromwell had fallen from power in 1540 Henry returned back to a more Catholic
doctrine through the Act of Six Articles in 1539 (celibacy for priests, transubstantiation) and
the King’s book in 1543
- Catholic practices were difficult to stamp out
● There was still a strong belief in Catholic doctrine - 85% of wills made in 1530s in
London (where Protestantism took root more quickly) were using traditional
references to saints and prayers for the soul
● In 1547 only ⅕ of the population were Protestants
● North and West were still firmly Catholic
● PofG 1536
● Cromwell’s campaign against purgatory in 1533-36 met with opposition from the
Bishop of London, who openly preached at St Paul’s in defence of prayers for the
dead
- Reverse in doctrine
● 1539 Act of Six Articles - anyone denying transubstantiation could be burnt alive
● King’s book 1543 (emphasised traditional beliefs in mass)
